Apparatus for casting in permanent molds



March 27, 1934. J. FLAMMANG El AL. 1,952,200

I APPARATUS FOR CASTING IN PERMANENT MOLDS Filed Aug. 12, 1951 2Shets-Sheet 1 March 27, 1934. J. FLAMMANG ET AL APPARATUS FOR CASTING INPERMANENT MOLDS Filed Aug. 12, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 27,1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR CASTING IN PERMANENT MOLDMo., a corporation of Application August 12,

Claims.

This invention pertains to a method and apparatus for casting inpermanent molds. More particularly, it pertains to a casting of suchmetals as aluminum and its alloys which have a large co- 5 efficient ofthermal expansion so that the contraction of the casting on cooling isconsiderable.

It has been found that in casting metals of this type success inobtaining good castings depends to a large extent upon thepossibility ofeliminat- 1 ing entrapped air, and the faults due to so-calledcrystallization shrinkage. It has also been found that many of thesedifficulties may be overcome by controlling the manner in which themetal flows into the mold and over the matrix surfaces. In many moldmatrices there are surfaces in a substantially horizontal position overwhich the metal must flow laterally while flowing vertically in adjacentpassages. It may occur under these circumstances that both ends of ahorizontal passage are closed by the vertical flow before the horizontalpassage is completely filled. In such cases air may be entrapped inthese horizontal passages and corresponding faults formed in thefinishedcasting.

One of the objects of this invention, therefore, is to provide a methodand apparatus which will overcome some of these difficulties.

Another object is to provide a method wherein the matrix surfaces areadjusted to such an in- 30 clination that horizontal flow of the metalis min- *imized.

' I Another object of this invention is to provide casting apparatus ofnovel design providing means for such adjustment of the matrix surfaces.

' v Another object is to provide such apparatus in which power may beapplied for manipulating the mold and core parts.

Further objects will appear from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in'which:

Figure 1 is a front view of an apparatus embodying this invention andadapted for carrying out the method thereof;

Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of Figure 1;

and

v Figure 3 is a detail section of the control valve,

on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a support or standard upon whichthe apparatus may be mounted. This may be provided with suitablebearings 2 adapted to receive trurmions 3 of a frame 4.

The frame 4 may be constructed of cast iron or other suitable material,and has generally a Delaware 1931, Serial No. 556,569

T-shape comprising a longitudinal extension 5 and lateral extensions 6extending in opposite directions-at the top of the extension 5. Theextensions 6 are joined by a plate 7 on which are guided for slidingmovement a pair of mold sections 8. The sections 8 are connected bypiston rods 9 with pistons working in hydraulic cylinders 10 mounted onthe frame 4 at the ends of the extensions 6. Mounted at the lower end ofthe downward extension 5 of the frame 4 is a hydraulic cylinder 11 whosepiston rod 12 extends upwardly and carries at its upward end the centralsection 13 of a three-section core adapted. for positioning between themold sections 8 to furnish a core for the mold matrix.

In the apparatus illustrated the mold is designed for casting trunkpistons and the pistons matrix is located in the mold with the pistonhead up.

Mounted at the front of the apparatus is a control valve 14. A fluidpressure supply pipe 15 enters one side of the valve 14 and an exhaustpipe 16 leaves the valve on the opposite side. These pipes pass intopassages formed in the frame 4 and pass out thru the trunnions thereof.External connections are made to these trunnions by a supply pipe 17communicating with pipe 15 and connected with a suitable source ofpressure supply. The exhaust pipe 16 conducts thru the trunnion to anexhaust pipe 18 which connects the pressure fluid back to a source ofsupply, not shown, to be re-circulated by a suitable pump or the like.

Within the valve 14 is a suitable vane 19 connected for manipulation byan external handle 20. With the vane 19 in the position shown in fulllines in Fig. 3, the pressure pipe 15 is connected to supply pressurefluid to a pipe 21 connected to the lower end of the cylinder 11, andpipes 22 and 23 connected to the outer ends of the cylinders 10. At thesame time the exhaust pipe 16 is connected with a pipe 24 leading to theupper end of the cylinder 11, and pipes 25 and 26 leading to the innerends of the cylinders 10. In the position shown in Fig. 3, therefore, avalve is adjusted to cause the cylinders 10 to force the mold sections 8together and the cylinder 11 to force its core section 13 upwardly intoposition within the mold.

By throwing the handle 20 to the position indicated in dotted lines inFig. 1 the vane 19 may be swung to the position indicated in dottedlines in Fig. 3. This operates to change the connections to thecylinders in such a way as to cause the piston of cylinder 11 towithdraw the core section 18, and the pistons of cylinders 10 to retractthe mold sections 8 laterally so as to free the casting. The other twosections 2'7 of the core are also slidably mounted on the plate 7 andconnected for manipulation by handles 28.

so that they may be moved. toward each other to collapsed position so asto free them from the interior of the casting.

As will be seen from Fig. 2, the bearings 2 are of the split formprovided with clamping studs 29 so that the trunnions 3 may be fixed inposition thereby. By loosening the studs 29 the frame 4 with the entirecasting apparatus mounted thereon may be adjusted to any desiredinclination. Such adjustment may be made so that practically all matrixsurfaces are inclined. With the mold thus adjusted to inclined position,the molten metal may be poured into the gate 30 by means of a ladle 31,or other suitable device. This ladle may be provided with a nozzle orspout 32 formed to be insertable into the gate 30 and so as to providefor a quiet flow of metal into the mold matrix. The ladle may be somanipulated that the spout 32 will direct the flow of metal first intothe lowermost portion of the mold matrix. The metal then rises quietlyin the mold and flows along the angular surfaces easily, and quicklydrives the entrapped air ahead of it so that such air may escape beforebeing cut off by other metal. It has been found that each particularcasting may require a particular adjustment of the" angle of the mold inorder to obtain the best results. It has also been found that uniformand solid castings are obtainable by this method and that rejects orspoiled castings are reduced to a In the manipulation of the device, theangle having been adjusted the mold is closed as shown in Fig. 1, andthe metal is poured from the ladle 31 into the mold in such a manner asto fill the latter quickly but with a quiet flow of metal. As soon asthe metal has set the valve 14 is manipulated so as to cause thehydraulic cylinders to withdraw the core sections 13 and open the moldsections 8. This leaves the casting supported by the outer core sections27. The operator now manipulates the -handles 28 by pressing themtogether thereby collapsing the core section 27 and freeing the castingentirely which may now be removed by a pair of -tongs or other suitablemeans. The handles 28 are then operated to spread the core section 2'7,and the valve 13 is thrown back to its first position whereupon thecylinders operate to return the core sections 13 and close the moldsections 8 in readiness for a new casting.

It will be noted that this invention provides a novel method of castingwherein a quiet and regular flow of metal is insured which takes placein such a manner that the air in the mold may escape without danger ofbeing entrapped. The inclined position of the mold insures a uniformmovement of metal over the matrix surfaces. The mounting of the entireapparatus on trunnions adapted for adjustment to any desired angle andthereby fixed in such adjustment provides for obtaining the best resultswith each particular type of casting. Whatever the adjustment, theentire mechanism is constant in the relation of its parts to each other,and the manipulation is uniform regardless of the angle of adjustment.The apparatus is compact and simple in construction, and such that it isrugged and capable of rough handling without injury.

While this has been described as a unitary device it will be understood,of course, that individual features or subcombinations thereof may beuseful without reference to other features of the combination and theemployment of such individual features and subcombinations iscontemplated by this invention and within the scope of the appendedclaims.

It is obvious that various changes may be made, within the scope of theappended claims, in the details of construction without departing fromthe spirit of this invention, it is to .be understood, therefore, thatthis invention is not limited to the specific details shown and/ordescribed.

Having thus described the invention, whatis claimed is:

1. Casting apparatus, comprising, a frame having a longitudinalextension and oppositely directed transverse extensions, an openablemold having sections movable on said transverse extension and a movablecore element, and fluid-operated means on said extensions connected tomove said mold sections and said core element.

2. Casting apparatus, comprising, a frame, a mold having sectionsmounted for movement on said frame, trunnions on said frame, supportingmeans adapted to receive said trunnions for adjustment of said frame toinclined position, and means for fixing said frame in adjusted inclinedposition.

3. Piston casting apparatus, comprising, a sup-- port, an openable moldhaving sections guided for movement on said support, a sectional corefor said mold adapted to form the interior of the casting and having amiddle section guided for withdrawing movement on said support, andpower means for moving said mold sections and said middle core section.

4. Piston casting apparatus, comprising, a support, an openable moldhaving sections guided for movement on said support, a sectional coreior said mold adapted to form the interior of the casting and having amiddle section guided for withdrawing movement on said support, andfluid pressure means for moving said mold sections and said middle coresection.

5. Piston casting apparatus, comprising, a support, an openable moldhaving sections guided for movement on said support, a sectional corefor said mold adapted to form the interior of the casting and having amiddle section guided for withdrawing movement on said support, fiuidpressure means for moving said mold sections and said middle coresection, a base, and means for adjusting said support on said base tohold said mold in inclined position.

JOHN FLAMMANG. PERCY L. BOWSER. HERMAN ERNST.

